That night, Germain and the others gathered around a long table for dinner. The table was covered with a wide variety of dishes, all prepared by the gourmet hunters Menchi and Buhara.
Many of these dishes were "trophies" taken from the Dark Continent. With the improved cooking conditions in the mansion, Menchi and Buhara had made them even more delicious.
At this moment, Kurapika and Zushi noticed Sanbica. They were surprised to learn from Wing that she had already been at the research institute behind the mansion. They hadn't even noticed her presence, wondering if she was very good at hiding or if she was simply very unobtrusive.
This time, Sanbica didn't stay hidden in her room as she had before. She bravely took a seat next to Bisky, removed her mask, and revealed her small, delicate face.
She ate her dinner quietly, taking small sips and keeping her head lowered, as if she was anxious about making eye contact with others, almost as if she feared catching some sort of illness from them.
Sanbica mostly responded to others' questions with nods or shakes of her head. When she could no longer avoid answering, she would softly say "um" or "yes."
For several people, including Germain, this was the first time they heard her voice, and they immediately felt that the dinner was off to a great start.
The conversation soon became lively, with everyone sharing interesting stories from their past commissions and their opinions on V5 and the Kakin Empire.
Kurapika took this opportunity to listen closely, gaining a deeper understanding of the world of professional hunters.
There are many types of professional hunters, such as beast hunters, gem hunters, gourmet hunters, and virus hunters. The main difference between them is the type of prey they hunt.
Kurapika found himself thinking about the future. In the past, he had no doubts about his path because he was clear on his goals.
He wants to reclaim his clansmen's Scarlet Eyes and seek revenge on the "Phantom Troupe." His future was set, and he was determined to dedicate his life to this mission.
After becoming Germain's disciple, Kurapika had to make some changes. If he hadn't changed, Germain wouldn't have accepted him as a disciple and taught him how to enter another world.
Now, Kurapika was realizing that he was becoming more and more fascinated by the fun of Nen abilities. The goal of getting back the Scarlet Eyes and seeking revenge no longer felt like the only purpose of his life.
Germain, along with Bisky, Menchi, and Buhara, often acted mysteriously. Today, they had been gone for almost half a day, saying they were just nearby, but Kurapika didn't believe them.
While Zushi trusted their words, Kurapika had a feeling that only those with elite potential in Nen can know. He suspected that Germains were hiding some secrets.
Kurapika soon understood why Germain hadn't shared the truth with him—he wasn't strong enough yet.
Maybe someday, Germain would willingly reveal everything, just as promised.
At the same time, Kurapika knew that under Germain's influence, he would eventually become a professional hunter.
But he wondered what kind of professional hunter he should be, considering he needed to destroy the Phantom Troupe and recover his people's Scarlet Eyes.
With these thoughts, Kurapika asked Germain during a break from the "Training" the next day.
"Bounty hunter, crime hunter, right?"
Germain answered while closing his eyes and letting his breath flow smoothly.
"The type of prey you want to hunt means you'll have to deal with the dark side of society, especially with the Mafia."
Mafia… Kurapika had traveled around the world after the Kurta clan's tragedy and before meeting Germain, so he was familiar with the "Ten Dons" and the "Three Great Mafia Families of the Kakin Empire."
"Do you think I can learn more about the Scarlet Eyes and the Phantom Troupe through the Mafia?"
Germain nodded. "Of course. I've told you before that the core members of the Phantom Troupe come from Meteor City, which has close ties with the mafia."
"As for the Scarlet Eyes, they were probably acquired through the black market. If that's the case, then the mafia will likely be involved."
Kurapika listened quietly for a moment, then asked with some hesitation:
"Teacher, if I make contact with the Mafia to achieve my goals, will you be upset? Or do you support my cooperation with them?"
Germain slowly opened his eyes.
Today, the bird-beaked hunter had changed from his usual black robe to a standard hunter's outfit. He looked at Kurapika from beneath the brim of his tricorn hat, which made Kurapika feel a bit uneasy.
"Someone once told me that 'hunter' is a neutral term. It doesn't imply good or evil, right or wrong. Before I became a hunter, I was an assassin myself."
Germain gestured towards Bisky in the distance.
Bisky had indeed kept her promise and had gone to a nearby town early in the morning to have a set of clothes custom-made for Buhara that fit his body shape. She was now showing the design to Buhara.
The clothes were quite fashionable, which didn't quite suit Buhara's simple nature. However, since it was a gift from a senior hunter, Buhara couldn't refuse and touched the back of his head awkwardly.
Menchi understood Buhara's feelings and seemed to want to reject the outfit on his behalf.
But Bisky was very insistent and wanted Buhara to try on the custom-made clothes according to the design, believing it would look great on him.
It's true that clothes can change how people are perceived. Even if you are tall and stout, the right clothes can make you look impressive.
Kurapika had been observing Bisky for a while and knew she was far more reliable than she appeared. Even with already having a teacher, he often took her advice.
Germain pursed his thin lips and continued speaking to Kurapika:
"Just like 'hunter', terms like 'Mafia member', 'Assasin', 'policeman', 'doctor', 'lawyer', 'teacher', and so on are all neutral terms to me."
"I won't fully trust someone just because they're a Hunter, nor will I fight them to the end just because they're a Mafia member. That goes against my principles."
"Principles and boundaries," Germain said, pointing at Kurapika.
"They are your tools to stay true to yourself in this world, rather than becoming just another pawn of any group."
"You should make decisions that benefit you while sticking to your principles and boundaries."
"Otherwise, you'll end up like the Phantom Troupe, becoming a twisted group driven by revenge and protection, or like the 'Flame Fist,' burning yourself out and fading away."
Kurapika listened carefully and nodded. "Teacher, I understand what you're saying."
Germain didn't add more. He preferred to get straight to the point rather than giving long speeches.
If Kurapika continues on the path of the original timeline, Germain would be disappointed, but he would respect Kurapika's choice, just as he respects Shizuku's dedication to Meteor City.
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